Frangible Food Grade Multiple Ingredient Package with Ingredient Isolation and Mixing

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this invention is to provide a means to produce a supplemental food source which maintains viability and stability due to the physical separation of the liquid and solid ingredients by using frangible food grade packaging techniques. The frangible food grade flexible packaging technique only utilizes a preinstalled adhesive or heat binding between the layers. This system then only requires pressure from the end user to enable the container to open and allow mixing. This system replaces the current mixing process whereby the end user must have a water source, container and mixing apparatus to homogenize a bulk powder into a usable form. This new powder and liquid delivery system improves the shelf life of the supplement dramatically thereby increasing product use in situations of limited or no potable water, limited or no available food sources, limited storage or carry space for food sources and the need to store for great periods of time in a variety of conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains generally to the mixing of soluble food powders with water based liquids. This apparatus is more preferentially a food supplement hydration apparatus and method. On terms that are more specific this invention pertains to the Supplement Powder Mixing Process and Shelf Life and even more specifically to the ability to maintain viability of non-mixed supplement powders and water in the same container for sustained periods of time prior to mixing in the same container.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently supplement powders are sold on the open market in bulk. The typical way to utilize these powders would be to add a premeasured amount of water or other hydrating liquid at the time of use. This batching process allows the water or hydrating liquid to be in the same container at all times with the supplemental powder while maintaining the separation of the two. Provided the packaging was conducted in a clean and sequential manner this separation of the two entities will make the longevity of the packet indefinite. The advantage is that when the user requires the supplement there will be no need to find water or other hydrating source which is clean and germ free. They simply apply pressure to break and inner seal, shake, and then consume the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a single, dual chambered packet containing both sterilized water or other hydrating source and a supplemental powder. The invention is also the way the ingredients are packaged in a sterile environment, sterilized themselves, to provide a safe consumable in time of need. This is accomplished by incorporating either a measured dose of sterilized water and a measured dose of sterilized supplement into the package. It can also be accomplish using a retort method to provide sterilization post packaging. The “clean” packaging is key to the products longevity and purity. The package itself is special in that it is permanently sealed with both products in either end with a breakable, temporary bond, between the two ingredients isolating them from each other. When pressure is applied the system will allow the user to mix the ingredients for consumption. Specifically the invention relies on the combination of the package, the supplement and the water or hydrating media to be viable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting the completed package, breaking point and use. Note the divider between the two media which allows the products to exist in their present state until mixing is desired. Note, although not depicted, that both are packaged as food and as such are clean and non-contaminated products ready for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described with reference to the diagram of FIG. 1, which depicts the following principal elements of the system and process. Of course, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes in the system and process can be undertaken without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

The component parts of the system and process include the following:

1. Supplement

-   -   The supplement can be any powder compilation which requires the         powdered state to remain viable over time. Examples can include         protein powders, vitamin enriched powders, high carbohydrate         powders, antibiotic containing powders, etc.

2. Hydrating Media

-   -   The hydrating media can be any liquid form media which is         miscible with the adjoining powder in the packet. Typically this         could be water or stable water based liquid. It could also be         alcohol based in desired situations.

3. Packaging

-   -   The packaging, often referred to as frangible packaging, can be         any dual compartment package maintaining the separation until         the inner seal is broken for consumption of the product. It can         be made from a variety of sources such as, but not limited to,         polyethylene, mylar, etc. which are approved for use with foods         and beverages

4. Inner Seal

-   -   The inner seal is an adhesive or heat bound between the two         sides of the packaging application. It separates when pressure         is applied to both sides of the pouch externally.

OBJECTS IN THE INVENTION

A first object of the invention is to allow the user to have both a hydrating source and a supplement source in one package for any situation. The second object of the invention is to deliver the ingredients in a sterile and non-contaminated method and maintaining this clean state until forced mixing of ingredients. The third object of the invention is to be able to provide supplements when none are available. The fourth object of the invention is to provide a product which can remain viable for extended periods of time until used. The fifth object of the invention is to provide separation then mixing in the same container without removal of any seals or package material only application of pressure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A food Grade Package for mixing multiple products which comprises a. An acceptable food grade non-porous compartment containing a predetermined amount of fluid, the first compartment having a flexible wall; b. An acceptable food grade non-porous compartment containing a predetermined amount of fluid or solid, the second compartment having a flexible wall; c. A frangible seal placed between the two compartments within the same package which can be “burst” by hand pressure thereby allowing the products to be shaken then consumed.
 2. A system and process for provision of a supplement or meal substitute which can remain viable in any situation until use by opening an inner seal to allow a wet and dry product to be mixed for consumption at a time when the user requires.
 3. The system is totally contained within itself and only requires pressure to open the container fully for mixing.
 4. The non-porous package of claim 1 is to be of an acceptable food grade material as specified by applicable regulations allowing contact with consumables.
 5. The non-porous package of claim 1 is to be of a material which remains viable at extreme heat conditions and extreme cold conditions.
 6. The frangible seal for package of claim 1 is to be of a material which remains viable at extreme heat conditions and extreme cold conditions.
 7. The frangible seal for package of claim 1 is to be an acceptable food grade material as specified by applicable regulations allowing contact with consumables. 